National

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday said that it will hear all Jallikattu matters on January 31 after the Centre filed a plea seeking to withdraw the January 6 notification, allowing the bull taming sport in Tamil Nadu.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra allowed all the applications related to Jallikattu to be filed and said the matter will be heard on Tuesday.

Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi mentioned before the bench that Centre has filed a plea seeking to withdraw the January 2016 notification.

Justice Misra said the appropriate bench which has heard and reserved the verdict will take up the matters.

The apex court has earlier said that it will be hearing the matter on January 30.

On January 25, the Animal Welfare Board of India and rights bodies had challenged the new Tamil Nadu legislation enacted to allow Jallikattu during Pongal festival.

Those challenging the bill, passed by the state assembly on January 23, were contending that it was against the mandate of the Supreme Court judgement which has held that the "sport is inherently cruel" towards animals and this real issue has not been addressed by the lawmakers.

The pleas were mentioned for urgent hearing before the apex court which had asked the Board and animal rights activists to file their applications.

Nearly 70 caveats have been filed in the Supreme Court seeking prior hearing if pleas challenging the new legislation allowing Jallikattu in the state come up for consideration.